Select Board votes to publish summary of FY26 legal expenses while protecting privileged details

The Townsend Select Board on June 30 reviewed an administrative analysis of the town's FY26 legal expenses and voted to publish a summarized, category‑based report to increase transparency while protecting attorney‑client privileged information.

Board members were presented with a preliminary breakdown showing roughly $48,000 in general government legal work, more than $80,000 in labor counsel work and more than $18,000 in litigation costs; staff cautioned these figures were based on invoice tallies through June 15 and could change after final invoices are posted. The interim town administrator said the summary should not be considered an official accounting record and that some invoices for the final 15 days of the fiscal year remained outstanding.

The board approved several transfers to close FY26 shortfalls in legal funding (see "Votes at a glance"), and members discussed a plan to publish regular summary invoices by broad categories (general government, contracts/land use, labor union, non‑union, and litigation). A staff member noted that redaction and careful review are required to avoid disclosing privileged litigation strategy but suggested linking to already‑public court records where appropriate.

Select board member Sarah Logan said the summaries would help residents see "where those overages came in this year." Kieran, the interim town administrator, recommended monthly publication to provide more timely oversight and to support administrative cost control.

The board did not release detailed line‑item invoices at the meeting, and officials reiterated that the town will withhold any records that counsel determines could affect the town's litigating position. The administration said it would add invoices received through June 30 before publishing a final FY26 summary.